By YVONNE SWANSON, St. Petersburg Times

It's no wonder that "do-it-yourself" has become the weekend mantra of today's homeowners. Countless how-to classes, articles, books, Web sites and television shows make home improvement look simple, fun and inexpensive. Even first-time home buyers should be able to conquer plenty of projects, right?

Wrong! DIY, unfortunately, doesn't always equal do-it-right.

If you're planting annual zinnias in your butterfly garden, be sure to select the "Lilliput" cultivar, which butterflies prefer more than 2 to 1 over other cultivars of this popular annual flower, reports Jeff Gillman, associate professor of horticulture at the University of Minnesota.

Old-fashioned remedies such as grits, soap or wood ashes won't kill fire ants, but hot water and a shovel will, suggest experts at the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.

Gardeners know that plants grow fast in Florida. So it's no wonder that one of the largest trees in the world resides here, an enormous banyan that spans more than an acre.

Make a water dish safe for butterflies

If you're green at heart but have a black thumb, don't give up on gardening just yet. There are some easy-care plants for indoors and out; in fact, some, including these 10 suggested by experts, are so foolproof you simply can't kill them.

That quaint metal object you thought good only for holding silk flowers needs to be taken down from its decorative shelf.
The watering can: It is now one of your most efficient allies in the fight to save your plants during drought, able to deliver a reviving gulp of water to plants in greatest need.

A lot of homeowners think they're getting more bang for the buck by using a "weed-n-feed" lawn-care product that combines herbicide with fertilizer. Experts caution against their use, especially if ornamental trees and shrubs are nearby.

Spring can be an intimidating season for the casual gardener. Garden centers overflow with bounty. Large beds of annuals begin sprouting up in yards and parks.
Inspiring, sure. But most of us simply don't have the time for all that digging, planting, fertilizing and weeding, especially if the plants are annuals and need to be replaced in six months or less.